good shepherd lutheran church shepherd’s voice6:30pm in the welcome area in the front of the...
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Give. Serve. Lead. Connect.
Shepherd’s Voice
N o v e m b e r 2 0 1 6
F r o m P a s t o r H a r a l d B r i n g s j o r d
To access this and other publications online visit GSlacrosse.org/voice.
GSlacrosse.org/voice Facebook.com/GSlacrosse Twitter.com/goodshepherdlse
Good Shepherd Lutheran Church
Sometimes I’m asked what kind of events are going on in our synod that we can participate in. And my answer is that there is a lot. Just check it out at www.lacrosseareasynod.org. For example, there is information about flood recovery efforts in our region, along with a meeting with the ELCA Director of North American Disaster Relief on Sunday Nov. 13, 2016, at the Synod office. There is a trip to Germany from June 12 – June 21, 2017, that you can still sign up for, led by Rev. Dr. Anne Hokenstad. You can find information about the Synod Assembly, Portico Health benefits, employment opportunities, Young Adults in Global Mission (YAGM), small group Bible studies such as the Animate Faith series, and so much more. Our Synod website is a great conduit for what is going on in the church at large and in our synod. I especially want to focus this month on how the La Crosse Area Synod is helping right now through the “Lutheran 101” series. The third “Lutheran 101” presentation will be held at the Synod office on Nov. 12, between 9:30am and noon. I hope everyone who would like to learn a little more about our Lutheran faith will attend this session. Various pastors from around our synod are giving the presentations. These events stand
independently of each other, so if you have not attended the first two you can still attend the rest of them. If you attend these events you will be learning about the Protestant Reformation that intensified as Martin Luther nailed 95 faith statements, commonly known as The 95 Theses, on the door of the Wittenberg Castle Church in Germany. Each of the following events explores basic parts of Lutheran history and theology that continue to shape and inform what it means to have a contemporary, living Lutheran view on God and the world. Participants can look forward to accessible, informative, and interactive sessions. They are open to people of all ages and are especially relevant to confirmation and adult education classes, including those interested in renewing their Lutheran identity and living into a new identity of faith. Here is a list of topics and presenters: November 12, 2016 “Living Catechism” by Rev. Jason Stanton Some of us memorized the Catechism. Some of us use it. Others don't. Why did Luther write the Small Catechism? What was its impact of the day? How can it shape our daily faith and life today? Continued on page 19
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Women Who Wrestle With The Word (W5)
If you would like to be a part of a regular
gathering of Christian Women, you are
always welcome to join W5. The group
will meet every Monday at
6:30pm in the welcome area
in the front of the sanctuary.
Lydia Circle
Good Shepherd Ministries
Lydia Circle meets the 1st Tuesday of
every month. Come join them for great
conversations, some laughter, fun,
camaraderie and a sweet desert!
If you have any questions or
would like to learn more
about Lydia circle, call Carol
Abraham at (608)787-0609.
Altar Guild—Willing to help out on our
Altar Guild? It is a very easy
commitment and we would be happy to
show you how it’s done! Simply call
Candie Luehne at (608)304-2035.
Quilting—Quilters meet at Good
Shepherd every Wednesday at 12:30pm
in the quilting room.
Mailing Crew—The Shepherd’s Voice
Mailing Crew is wondering if you are
interested in helping out prepare the
Voice newsletter with address labels and
stickers? We meet the 4th Thursday of
each month at 8:30am in the choir room.
Care Ministry—Care Ministries visit
the homebound year round to have a
small chat, give communion, and have a
prayer. Interested in joining this
ministry? Contact Don Skibba at 787-
0498. If you or someone you know
would like a visit from our care ministry
team, please contact the church office at
(608)788-0450.
55 Plus—55 Plus is a friendly lunch
gathering for the 55+ crowd that meets
every 3rd Thursday of the month at
11:30am. We gather at The King Street
Kitchen located at 141 7th St S.
Flower and Bulletin Sponsorship
Readers & Ushers Appreciated!
Readers and Ushers are always valued
at our worship services. Please consider
signing up on the chart in the welcome
area at the back of the sanctuary. You
can sign up for a time and day that
works for you. The readings will be sent
(either by mail or email) to you early
that week. Thank you so much for
helping out!
The flower and bulletin sponsorship
charts are on the bulletin board in the
back of the welcome area. Sponsoring
the flowers or bulletins is an easy way to
honor special dates such as birthdays
and anniversaries, or the memory of a
loved one. If you have any
questions on sponsoring the
flowers or bulletins, please
contact Kathy or Rick in the church
office at (608)788-0450.
Give Volunteering Within Church
Serve
Enriching Life, Sharing Talents
Ushers Schedule
Causeway Caregivers
Causeway Caregivers exists to help!
Give Causeway a call if you need
assistance in or around your home or if
you have a few hours to volunteer
helping those who do.
(608) 775-9999 or visit our website:
causewaycaregivers.org
Joy is prayer.
Joy is strength.
Joy is love.
Joy is a net of love by
which you can catch
souls. God loves a cheerful giver. One
gives most who gives with joy. The best
way to show our gratitude to God and
people is to accept everything with joy.
A joyful heart is the inevitable result of
a heart burning with love. Never let
anything so fill you with sorrow as to
make you forget the joy of the Christ
risen.
—Mother Teresa
Nov 6 8:30am: Steve Arndt, Dawn Weeks, Vernon & Peg Garves, Carter & Amiee Roth 10:30am: Norm & Joanne Jerome, Randy Hanson, Deb Koblitz, Jeff & Sharon Yushta
Nov 13 8:30am : Confirmation Youth
10:30am: Confirmation Youth
Nov 20 8:30am: David & Barb Foye, Gordy Powell, Keith & Mary Isaacs
10:30am: Jane Strangstalien, Candie Luehne, Duane & Linda Schoen, Gundi Bay,
Gerald Knutson
Nov 23 Thanksgiving Eve 6:30pm Service—Please sign up to help on the sign up sheet
Nov 27 8:30am: Mark & Shanon Torgerud, Glen & Sue Larson
10:30am: Heidi Kwiatkowski, Lois Olson, Marv & Darryle Clott
Thank You All So Very Much…
Altar Guild —Thank you to the
members who served during the month of
October, Pat Oliver & Linda Schoen.
During November Nancy Oelke & Irene
Thorelli, will be ‘on duty’.
Sara Wrobel— Thank you for sending
out the “Get Well” card in October.
Phyllis Lynch will be sending out the
cards throughout the month of
November.
Ann Hudson—Thank you for sending out
cards and prayer shawls year round to
bereaved families.
Care Ministries—Thank you to all
members who are serving as Care
Ministers to the faithful members of
Good Shepherd who can no longer come
to worship with us. Through you, our
Care Ministers, the church comes to
them!
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Calling All Musicians!
Our “Sounds of Praise” worship band
invites you to help us lead the worship
here at Good Shepherd. “Sounds of
Praise” is intended to bring together the
greatest number and variety of
instruments possible, presenting special
music and enhancing our wide variety of
hymn styles. Whatever type of
instrument you play,
“Sounds of Praise”
welcomes you! Please call
Randy Lyden at
(608)779-9669 or email
to be a part of this growing
and exciting praise band!
Local Food Pantry Needs
4-H Club
The Mormon Coulee 4-H Club was first
established in 1946 making the club one
of the oldest in La Crosse County! 4-H
clubs are made up of children from
kindergarten through high school. We
meet the second Sunday of each month at
5pm in the Mattes Center. We are always
looking for eager volunteers to showcase
their talents or for new members. If
anyone is interested, or has any
questions, please feel free to contact Kim
Young at (608)796-0099 or e-mail
Boy Scouts—Troop 22 meets at 6:45pm
weekly on Tuesday’s in the Mattes
Center.
Girl Scouts—Troop 4172 meetings are
not yet set.
Boy Scouts & Girl Scouts Meet at Good Shepherd
Lead
Raising Up Spiritual Leaders
Connect
Bridging Our Community To Our World
Make a joyful noise unto the Lord!
The Sanctuary Choir
The Sanctuary Choir rehearses between
services every Sunday from September
through May and new members are
always welcome!! If you would like to
join our Sanctuary Choir, please contact
Karl Greenfield at 715-214-8528
or at [email protected]
The Gloria Dei Choir
We rehearse between services on
Sundays from September through May in
the Mattes Center and new members are
always welcome! If your children would
like to be a part of the Gloria Dei Choir,
please contact Darlene Lassig at
(608)788-5686 or at
Hand Bell Choir
Practices are on Sunday evenings
5:30pm for adult bell choir and 6:30pm for
youth bell choir. If you have any questions
please contact Linda Jerome at
High School Youth Group
(Grades 9-12) Good Shepherd’s
High School Youth Group is a group
that meets on Wednesday evenings
at 6pm throughout the year.
Fellowship and games 6–7p with a
bible study at 7p. You aren't the only
Christian at your school! Come
hangout with other awesome teens
just like yourself. Social events
throughout the year along with a
yearly mission trip. Want to learn
more? Contact Stephanie Andersen
at [email protected] or just
drop in and check it out for yourself!
Remember also your Creator in the days of your youth, Ecclesiastes 12:1
West Avenue Food
Emergency Relief
(WAFER) is asking for
Peanut Butter dur ing the
month of November.
Thank you for all the
donations given in
October!
Please leave all donations in the grocery cart
near our bulletin boards in the Welcome
Area. A monetary gift may also be given to
help support WAFER. Simply make your
check out to Good Shepherd, and indicate
WAFER in the check memo area.
If you have any questions about Scouts, please call the church office at 788-0450 and
we can connect you with the group leaders.
Our next Mobile Meals Is November 27th to December 3rd
Thank you all for delivering Mobile
Meals in September! Mobile Meals of La
Crosse delivers 33,000 meals annually to
the homebound, largely through the
efforts of local churches like ours. The
2016 schedule is up and the yellow bus is
up for Nov 27th to Dec 3rd for you to
signup.
Need more information?
Call 784-4623 or go online at
mobilemealsoflacrosse.org. Pick-up
place is Franciscan/Mayo at the Market
Street door and the pick-up time will be
11am. Please allow 1 1/2 to 2 hours
delivery time. We are route #1.
Good Shepherd gratefully acknowledges and sincerely appreciates your gifts over and above
your regular giving. The following gifts were received from Sept. 15 through Oct. 16, 2016. Date 8:30am 10:30am
09/04/16 70 85
09/11/16 143 101
09/18/16 85 170
09/25/16 118 149
Weekly Sunday Attendance
September
2016
September
2015
% Difference
26,060.09 23,740.80 8.9%
YTD 2016 YTD 2015 % Difference
252,095.03 263,225.70 -4.4%
If you would like to view the
complete financial statements that
are shared with the Council, please
contact Rick in the church office at
[email protected] or by calling
the church office (608)788-0450.
Date Weekly % Budget
09/04/16 4,559.83 57%
09/11/16 4,518.99 57%
09/18/16 9,668.27 121%
09/25/16 7,313.00 92%
Totals 26,060.09 82%
Envelope Offering Comparison
Weekly Envelope Offerings
Stewardship Church Numbers Memorials & Special Gifts
Giving Tree—Giving In A Unique Way
Do you know about our Giving Tree? If not, this is a unique way to sponsor items or services
used within our church. Our giving tree is located in the corner by the main entrance in the
welcome area. Select the tag (s) that mean the most to you and return them and the donation in
the envelopes provided by either placing it in the offering plate, dropping it off at or mailing it
to the church office.
Wafer
Connie Lee
Evelyn Lee
Gerald Knutson
Jim & Sue Bugge
Norm Jerome
Ramon & Connie Erickson
Joyce Morrison Memorial
Harald & Andrea Bringsjord
Dave Kilmer
Vernon & Peggy Garves
Sandra Demoran
Marie Weaver
BAI _ James Morrison
Kris & Joe Bernhardt
Gordy & Carol Powell
Flood Relief
Darren & Jaclyn Osley
Steve & Kari Ellison
Jim Stylen Memorial
Duane & Arlene Dreves
Gordon & Mary Ann Dreves
Bea Zielke Memorial
Kari Grams-Burner
Kris & Joe Bernhardt
Shirley Holman
Harald & Andrea Bringsjord
Mary & Tarry Hall
0.00
5,000.00
10,000.00
15,000.00
20,000.00
25,000.00
30,000.00
35,000.00
40,000.00
Jun Jul Aug Sep
Envelope Offerings by month
2014
2015
2016
Donations From CouncilDonations From
CongregationMatching Funds Funds from Lee Estate
Needed 14,075.00 35,925.00 100,000.00 92,113.00
Given To Date 12,171.36 43,812.00 40,000.00
0
20000
40000
60000
80000
100000
120000
Mortgage Elimination Progress as of 10/17/16Al l funds from the congregation exceeding $35,925.00 wi ll reduce the funds
that wi ll be needed from the Lee estates to pay off the mortgage.
Needed Given To Date
Adult Bunco Night Friday, November 18, at 6pm in the Mattes Center. “Thankful” theme, bring a $5 wrapped gift and a dish to pass. Hope to see you there!
Around the Parish... Around the Parish...
Saturday Quilting Join us Saturday, November 19th, at 9am for friendship, fun and comradery as we work together making quilts for Lutheran World Relief. Our group also meets regularly on Wednesdays at 12:30pm. All are welcome to attend, and experience is not required so come and join us as we work together to make the world a little warmer for those in need.
Adult Bible Study Our Adult Bible Study meets the 2nd Wednesday of each month. We will be studying James, chapters are spread over 9 lessons so we would meet thru May. All are welcome, contact Maree Smith for more information. [email protected]
Lydia Circle Millie Hamann will be leading our Nov. 1st meeting, Lesson 24 “Thomas”. Host will be Barb Hegge, devotions will be by Ardis Severson. Please call Carol Abraham 787-0679 if you have any questions. All are welcome!
New Members There will be a new member orientation Tuesday, Nov. 1 for all potential new members. New members will be welcomed into the congregation Sunday, November 6.
Holiday Marketplace Terrific News! We have booked 25 vendors and have a waiting list for more. The Packers just notified me that they are sending another unique item for us this year. The committee is meeting and finalizing plans. Many of you have volunteered and we appreciate it so very much. We have a Baked goods sign up list on the back bulletin board. Please let us know if you are willing to donate any baked goods. Do you make something really special for Christmas? I am looking for 12 specialties we could sell in Santa's Sweet Shoppe. Give me a call and I'll explain. Thank you everyone for all you've done. Raffle Baskets are nearly complete and look outstanding. Pastor will draw the names of the winners at the end of second service on Nov. 13th. It's going to be a fantastic sale. We have old and new vendors with clever items! Save Saturday, Nov.12th from 8am-2pm to shop the sale. My phone 799-0263.
Attention Youth! The 2017 High School Mission Trip is officially open for registration! We will be traveling to Cincinnati, OH July 23-28th, 2017. We have 18 spots available so please sign up early. There is the potential to open up more spots, but I can't guarantee more than 18 at this time. I need all of the following to reserve spots: Interest form, Release & Covenent paperwork, and $100 deposit (scholarships and payment plans available). Please note: There is a meeting on November 16th 6:30 - 7:30. I need students and parents there as we will be talking about mission trip expectations and fundraising. If you cannot attend, please let me know so we can make other arrangements. Call or email with any questions. Thank You! Stephanie Andersen [email protected] 608-385-7394
Thanksgiving Eve Pie Fest Following the 6:30pm Thanksgiving Eve service on Wed. Nov. 23 we will be serving pie and coffee in the Mattes Center. Please sign up on the bulletin board in the concourse. Bring your favorite pie to church on Wed. Nov. 23.
Good Shepherd Caring Tree The caring tree will be up on Sunday, Nov. 20. There will be tags on the tree with a nursing home resident’s name and suggestions of items they would like. Please take a tag and return the wrapped item with the card on it to the church by Sunday, Dec. 11. These gifts will make Christmas a little merrier for those residents who would not receive a gift at Christmas. Last year we made Christmas happier for 94 residents and this year we hope to increase that number with your help! Any questions, call Candie Leuhne at 608-304-2035.
Christmas Poinsettia's If you would like to bring a poinsettia for our Christmas services please bring it to the church by Thurs. Dec. 22nd. Put your name on it and you may pick it up after the Christmas Day service or during the following week.
Sunday School Book Fair Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for your kids or grandkids? Stop by our Book Fair and shop award-winning Bibles, books, and videos for babies to twelve-year-olds. Save up to 40% PLUS free shipping on all Book Fair titles. See our Display in the Concourse between Sunday Oct. 30th and Nov. 6th to order faith-filled books and videos for your kids. Orders due Nov. 13th. Our Book Fair, sponsored by Sparkhouse Family, features a wide variety of new resources based on the beloved Spark Story Bible. They’re Prayers for kids based on the Psalms, a picture book about Noah’s Ark, the first-ever animated Spark video (starring Squiggles the caterpillar!), and a new line of Spark Play and Learn Books. Other noteworthy titles include a new Christmas picture book from the Frolic series and a gorgeous Advent pop-up book that will make a delightful gift. Each book and video is designed to help parents instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in their children at every age.
Stable raising tree trimming, bag stuffing, chili eating fun night! Join us at 5:30pm on December 2nd for a chili supper and then stay and help decorate the church for Christmas. It’s a great way to start the holiday season and a lot of fun too. Hope to see you there, all are welcome!
November 2016 8:30am Worship Service 10:30am Worship Service Sunday School concurrent with both services Communion 1st and 3rd Sundays of Each Month
Adult Bell Choir
Meets every Sunday
each week. at 5:30pm.
Youth Bell Choir
Meets every Sunday
each week. at 6:30pm.
Sanctuary Choir
Meets every Sunday
Each week at 9:30am.
Sounds of Praise
Meets every Saturday each
week at 4pm.
Gloria Dei Choir
Meets every Sunday
each week at 9:45am.
Sun Mon Tue Wed Thu Fri Sat 30
3rd Grade Milestone
6pm Venture Crew
31
NO W5
November 1
West Pastor Conference
1pm Lydia Circle 5:30 New Member Orientation
6pm Buildings & Grounds
6:45pm BS Troop 22
2
12:30pm Quilting
6pm Youth Group (Gr. 9-12) 6:30pm Confirmation
3
6pm WELCA Mtg
4 5
6
All Saints Day
& New Member Sunday
Name Tag & Cookie Sunday sponsored
by Altar Guild 6:30pm BS Troop 22 Adult Mtg
7
6:30pm W5
8
ALL DAY POLLING
1:45pm Hillview Communion
9
12:30pm Quilting
6pm Youth Group (Gr. 9-12) 6:30pm Confirmation
6:30pm Adult Bible Study
10
6pm Hospitality Mtg
11
December Voice
Articles Due
12
8am Holiday Marketplace
13
11:30am Praise/Worship Team
4pm 4-H Meeting
14
6pm Admin/Exec Meeting
6:30pm W5 7pm Church Council Mtg
15
6pm Parish Ed Meeting
6:45pm BS Troop 22
16
12:30pm Quilting
6pm Youth Group (Gr. 9-12) 6:30pm Confirmation
6:30pm 2017 Mission Trip Mtg
17
8:30am Voice Mailing Crew
11:30am 55 Plus
18
BUNKO
Thankful Theme
19
9am Quilting
20
9:45am Altar Guild Meeting
21
5:30pm Membership,
Growth/Fellowship Mtg 6:30pm W5
22
6:45pm BS Troop 22
23
12:30pm Quilting
6:30pm Thanksgiving Eve Serv 7:30pm Pie Social
24
Thanksgiving Day
25
26
27
9:45am Care Ministry Meeting
6pm Venture Crew
28
6:30pm W5
29
6:45pm BS Troop 22
30
12:30pm Quilting
6pm Youth Group (Gr. 9-12) 6:30pm Confirmation
December 1
6pm WELCA Mtg
2
5:30pm Tree
Trimming Fun Night
3
11am to 2pm Christmas Capers
4
Name Tag & Cookie Sunday sponsored
by Lydia Circle & Quilters 6:30pm BS Troop 22 Adult Mtg
5
6:30pm W5
6
West Pastor Conference
1pm Lydia Circle 6pm Buildings & Grounds
6:45pm BS Troop 22
7
12:30pm Quilting
6pm Youth Group (Gr. 9-12) 6:30pm Confirmation
8
6pm Hospitality
9
10
To access the most up-to-date calendar visit GSlacrosse.org/calendar.
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Staff
Rev. Harald Bringsjord Pastor
Rick Laufenberg Office M anager
[email protected] | (608) 788-0450
Kathy Johnson Office Assistant
Tammy Klein Children’s M inistry
Coordinator [email protected]
Stephanie Andersen Y outh M inistry
Coordinator [email protected]
Randy Lyden M usic Director/
Organist [email protected] |
(608) 779-9669
Linda Jerome Bell Choir Director
Darlene Lassig Volunteer Gloria Dei
Choir Director
(608) 788-5686
Karl & Jaime Greenfield Sanctuary
Choir Directors [email protected] |
(715) 214-8528
Bev Sorenson Volunteer Parish
Nurse [email protected]
Bill Klein Custodian/M aintenance
Your Health
From the desk of our Parish Nurse
Bev Sorenson, RN GS Volunteer Parish Nurse
(608) 792-3962
Parish Health News:
GSlacrosse.org/parish-nurse-update.
Health Questions? Call the Gundersen Telephone Nurse Advisor
Church Council Members
Sara Wrobel President of the
Congregation [email protected]
Duane Schoen Vice President of
the Congregation
Dianne Hamann Treasurer
Monty Gilbertson Secretary
Other Church Council Members
include: Don Skibba, Lori Lowell, Beth Bonney,
Bev Sorenson, Barbara Kilpatrick, Mary
Isaacs, Carol Powell, Candie Luehne,
Janice Thaldorf & Colin Smith.
Questions? Don’t know who to contact? Contact the Church Office.
(608) 788-0450 | [email protected] | www.gslacrosse.org
4141 Mormon Coulee Rd. La Crosse, WI 54601 (Office hours 8am to 1pm)
Dear Congregation, The attached information isn't a new problem but one that isn't going away or improving. After the week I have had with my own child, please sit down with yours, have a discussion and give them a hug. The basic problem is the United States holds the unwanted lead in distracted driving. An astounding 69% of drivers aged 18-64 admit to using their cell phones while driving. Our Country takes the lead over other countries when it comes to reading or sending texts while driving. Text messaging has become an integral part of our lives. During daylight hours about 660,000 drivers are using their cell phones or other electronic devices. This activity increases the risks of becoming involved in an accident 3 times over the normal risk probability. Young drivers under 20 are avid text messagers and make up 27% of the drivers in fatal crashes. Texting while driving is a risky habit. Snap chatting or Instagram while driving or distracting your driver is dangerous. Texting can make vehicle accidents 23 times more likely to happen. Texting by its nature takes 3 separate physical and mental actions away from your attention to the road. 1. Visual - instead of watching the road and potential hazards, your eyes are reading a message. 2. Manual - While your fingertips are typing a response like LOL, or sending an emoji face, your hands are off the wheel where they need to operate controls. 3. Cognitive - Your mind is not into driving safely. You are more concerned to respond
to a text. You have become an unsafe and inattentive driver. To make matters worse, the urge to text is addictive. People tend to read and answer text messages and cell phone calls immediately. They leave their phones on as to not miss any messages. Texting while driving is now the leading cause of United States teen deaths. Texting and driving has surpassed drinking and driving. More than 3000 teens die each year in crashed with texting and driving being the cause while approximately 2,700 teens are killed by drinking and driving. The problem, more than 50% of teens admit to reading and sending texts or emails while driving. More than 30% admit to posting on a social media while behind the wheel. The problem is that with the few seconds it takes to send a text, an accident can occur.
Continued on page 19
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Happy Fall Everyone!
As I write this article for the voice the frost
is on the pumpkins, the smell of spices like
cinnamon and nutmeg are filling the air, leaves
have turned gold and red and are falling from
the trees, and YIKES….Christmas Program
Parts picking is on the calendar!
I can barely believe that we are finished
with the first two months of Sunday School.
We have spent these weeks learning about
stories of prayer… “Abraham and Sarah”
followed by “Hannah and Samuel”. Both are
about families who prayed for children. But,
along with our songs, we are learning about
talking with God no matter what time of day,
what situation, about joys and sorrows. And, to
top it off, Hannah and Samuel may be new
stories or reminder stories for the adults as
well!
It has been a Super Fun two months and I
think we have all enjoyed having more kids in
all of our groups. We have a lot of new friends
and this will make our other activities super
fun as well.
What else could be super fun? The
Christmas Program….yes I said Christmas.
We have parts selection coming up soon, so
kids should make note of the first date and start
sorting out which part they would like to play.
ALL KIDS HAVE A PART, we just need to fit
them all in. The program will be December
18th at each service, but even if you will be
gone, we want you to come and learn the story
with us!
We have also begun the year quite strong
with many ducks going out for
attendance….Football Ducks, Unicorn Ducks,
Sock Monkey Ducks...and Birthday Ducks. In
addition, we have had our first “Birthday”
celebration. Youth are getting into the “party”
mode with us as they write out birthday cards
for the Sunday schoolers this year!
To add to the celebration, we continue, with
our church family to fulfill the promise to put
the word of God in our children’s hands.
Through baptism we make this promise as
parents, congregational members, family and
friends in Christ. We have given our 3 and 4
year old Preschoolers, Kindergarteners and 3rd
Graders their Milestone Ministry gifts for this
year. Tote bags, Storybooks, Bibles and
Sunday Song CD’s are wonderful tools helping
to foster a continued and growing personal
relationship with God.
We are now starting our “Solomon Builds a
Temple” story 1 Kings, 6. Then it will be onto
the Christmas story and Advent.
We will be spending a Saturday, in
December, doing “Christmas Capers”. Please
watch for the information coming at you in the
next voice. This will be December 3rd. This is
a great event for the kids to make gifts for
others, have a craft, lunch and movie together
and decorate the Mattes Center for the
holidays.
We are also running a Book Fair from
October 30th through November 6th. We will
be making funds for each book ordered. These
books are kid friendly. All funds raised will go
toward starting a Sugar Creek Scholarship fund
for kids wanting to attend camp that may not
have the funds to do so. We get a taste every
year with Explorer’s Day, and many of the
kids get excited to attend a full week the
following year. Please visit the table in the
concourse for information and order forms and
to see what wonderful books you can order for
gifts. They will be in at Good Shepherd for
pick up in plenty of time for Santa.
Have I mentioned our Library Makeover?
Feel free to Visit the library, browse, check out
and enjoy some time with books, stories and
movies!
Thank you all for a wonderful start to the year!
Wishing you and your family a Blessed
Thanksgiving!
Tammy
Tammy Klein
Children's Ministry Coordinator
[email protected] (608)788-0450
Recent Sunday School News: GSlacrosse.org/children.
In the Office: M on., W ed., Fri.: 2:30-7pm
Stay Connected! Receive message alerts for Sunday School at Good Shepherd. Send the message @rubberduck to the
number (608) 807-2784. All parents and children with a cell phone are encouraged to sign-up! Data charges may apply. Must age 13+ to sign up without parental guidance. This service is brought to you
by Remind®.
October 30 3rd Grade Bible Milestone Presentation – beginning of Services
Spirit Sunday/Birthday Celebrations July, Aug, Sept, Oct
November 6-20 Solomon Builds a Temple - Kitchen, Art and Science
November 6 Christmas Program Parts Selection (Day One)
November 27 Advent Lesson/Art All Classes
December 3 Christmas Capers – Confirmation/youth Volunteers – 11am to
2pm. Movie, Craft, Games, Giving, Decorating – all fun for 3
years to 3rd Grade.
December 4, 11 and 17 Christmas Program Rehearsal
December 18 Christmas Programs – 8:30 and 10:30.
Sunday School is having a Book Fair! Looking for that perfect Christmas gift for your kids or grandkids? Stop by our Book Fair and shop award-winning Bibles, books, and videos for babies to twelve-year-olds. Save up to 40% PLUS free shipping on all Book Fair titles. See our Display in the Concourse between Sunday Oct. 30th and Nov. 6th to order faith-filled books and videos for your kids. Orders due Nov. 13th.
Our Book Fair, sponsored by Sparkhouse Family, features a wide variety of new resources based on the beloved Spark Story Bible. They’re Prayers for kids based on the Psalms, a picture book about Noah’s Ark, the first-ever animated Spark video (starring Squiggles the caterpillar!), and a new line of Spark Play and Learn Books. Other noteworthy titles include a new Christmas picture book from the Frolic series and a gorgeous Advent pop-up book that will make a delightful gift. Each book and video is designed to help parents instill an open-hearted, transformational, lifelong Christian faith in their children at every age and stage.
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Stephanie Andersen
Director of Youth and Family Ministry
[email protected] (608) 788-0450
Recent Youth News: GSlacrosse.org/youth
In the Office: W ednesday 4-8pm
Stay Connected! Confirmation: Text @gsconfirm to (608) 402-4735 for confirmation updates! Youth Group: Text
@gslcyouth to (608) 402-4735 for youth group updates!
Data charges may apply. Must age 13+ to sign up without parental guidance. This service is brought to
you by Remind®.
Youth Update
Confirmation (Grades 6-8) & High School Youth (Grades 9-12)
“Jesus performed many other signs in the presence of his disciples, which are not recorded in this book. But these are written that you may believe that Jesus is the Messiah, the Son of God, and that by believing you may have life in his name.
John 20: 30-31 (NIV)
Confirmation:
Confirmation is rolling along. Although some
weeks, it seems impossible to get middle
schoolers to answer a question, we are
learning a lot. Our memorization goal for this
year is to memorize the “Apostle’s Creed.”
We are well on the way to completing this
goal and I am impressed by the students effort
on this front.
Our first service night was energy filled and
productive. Two of our groups helped with
BINGO at Bethany Riverside while the
remainder of groups stayed at church to
complete projects. Projects they completed
include: making tie blankets for LWR and
Projects Linus, packing LWR hygiene, school
and baby kits, cleaning the nursery and other
small projects around church.
The beginning of the curriculum this year has
focused on quested related to the bible..
Questions we have tackled are: “Who wrote
the bible: God of Humans?” “Is the Bible
True?” “Is the New Testament more
important than the Old Testament?” and “Why
does the bible contradict itself?” As our
students are coming into their own and
moving from the faith of their parents to a
faith of their own, they wrestle with these and
many other questions. These questions that
may be brought to life in their own head or by
those around them. I am proud that we can
tackle these questions head on and
acknowledge that faith sometimes is a
confusing thing.
One theme we have seen through our first few
lessons is that “God loves us!” The bible may
be confusing and we may not be able to figure
out the exact meaning of a certain verse, but
through it all we continue to see the message
of Gods love. Gods love us regardless of who
wrote the bible and if they got every detail
straight. God loves shines through in the Old
and New Testament.
High School Youth:
Our spots are booked and it is official! Good
Shepherd Youth Group will be traveling to
Cincinnati, Ohio Sunday July 23—Friday July
28th. We will once again be working with
Youthworks.
This trip is open to all students entering 9th
grade or higher in the fall of 2017. Due to
transportation issues and space at the mission
site, I can only guarantee spots to our first 18
participants so register early! If you have a
student interested in attending, please talk to
Stephanie or pick up registration materials
from the office. A mandatory meeting will
take place on November 16th for all students
attending along with their parents. This will be
a time to talk about fundraising and mission
trip expectations.
I am also pleased to announce that Youtfest
and Top Shep will be returning in the winter
and spring of 2017! We received positive
feedback from the congregation and it also
served as an important fundraiser last year so
we are excited to put on these events again.
There will be a few changes based on
feedback we received in order to allow people
to fully enjoy both events. As more details are
available, I will pass them along.
November 2nd Why are there so many versions of the bible?
Youth Group: Birthday Card Project
November 9th
Fellowship/Service with small groups
BINGO: Barbara, Jen and Tina’s groups
Youth Group: Video Study
November 16th Is the Bible True?
6:30pm—Mission Trip Meeting (Students and Parents)
November 23rd Thanksgiving Eve: No Confirmation or Youth Group
November 30th How can God be Three in One?
Youth Group: Music Wednesday
December 7th
Fellowship/Service with small groups
BINGO: Laura and Corrine’s groups
Youth Group: Tie Blankets Service Project
Every Wednesday Youth Group 6:00—8:00pm All High School Students Welcome!
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Randy Lyden
Good Shepherd Music Director
[email protected] | (608) 779-9669
Recent Music Notes/Updates:
GSlacrosse.org/music
It Is Well with My Soul
Of all the hymns in our rich worship music
tradition, one of the most moving is the
hymn “It Is Well with My Soul”, written by
Horatio Spafford (1828-1888). Spafford was
a prominent and successful Chicago lawyer,
devout Christian and Presbyterian church
elder. He and his wife Anna had four
daughters and a son, and were friends and
supporters of evangelist Dwight Moody.
Tragedy began to strike as their young son
died of pneumonia in 1871. Also that year,
the Great Fire of Chicago destroyed most of
Spafford’s sizable real estate investments in
Chicago, dealing him a severe financial
blow. The economic downturn of 1873 made
things even worse. The Spafford's decided
that year to travel to England to recover
from the tragedy and join friends Dwight
Moody and Ira Sankey on an evangelical
campaign there. An unexpected business
problem forced Horatio to remain behind, so
his wife and four daughters set out to
England on the SS Ville du Havre, with the
intention that he would join them there
shortly. While at sea, the Ville du Havre
struck the iron-hulled Scottish vessel Loch
Earn and sank in 12 minutes, killing 226
people, including the four Spafford children.
Anna, who was rescued, sent her husband a
telegram from England, which began,
“Saved alone, what shall I do?” Spafford
took the next available ship to England to
join his wife. With the ship about four days
at sea, the captain called Spafford to his
cabin and told him that they were over the
place where the Ville du Havre sank. It is
said that he penned the words to this hymn
as the ship passed by where his daughters
had died.
Composer Philip Bliss (1838-1876) was very
impressed with Spafford’s life and the words
to this hymn. He wrote a beautiful piece of
music to accompany these lyrics and the
hymn was published in 1876 by Bliss and
Sankey. It bears the tune name Ville du
Havre.
Music Notes
From The Director of Music
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There are texting alternatives, but they are not a much better of a solution to the problem. There are several apps that can be used to avoid the temptation to text a message. Voice recognition app will translate spoken works into a text, but you still have to use your hands to send a message. The Auto Responder app will send out a pre written message to the caller when one can't respond and will explain why you aren't responding at the time. The Text blocker App is an excellent way for parents to prevent teens from texting while driving. It disables texting when the vehicle is going over 10 mph. The most effective solution is for the driver to turn off their phone while driving. Unfortunately even the best intentions of people to drive safely loses to the attraction to texting. The only real solution for Texting and driving is to stop. Eliminate that
distraction. Education and training can only go so far. So resorting to the legal system is one solution. Nationwide 43 states have passed laws to prohibit drivers from using hand held cell phones and texting. There is no limit to when a driver may text. As soon as their cell phone rings or they receive a text they want to respond. But the statistics can't deny there is a problem when 9 people are killed and over 1,153 people are injured every day in the United States due to distracted driving. Help change the statistics, be an example for your kids, have the discussion and stop texting and driving. Resource for this article came from Melinda J Helbock A.P. Law office. Your Parish Nurse, Bev Sorenson BSN
January 14, 2017 “Living Sacraments” by Rev. Kris Fahey. Explore Luther's understanding of Baptism and the Lord's Supper based on the Small Catechism. How is our Lutheran perspective on God, church, faith, and discipleship enriched by these two sacraments? February 11, 2017 “Living Theology -- Law and Grace” by Bishop Jim Arends Explore a key theological concept of the Protestant Reformation and our Lutheran voice in the world today: Law and Gospel. Your preacher most likely uses these terms: What do they really mean? March 11, 2017 “Living Theology – Theology of the Cross” by Rev. Dr. Anne Hokenstad Explore how Martin Luther gave voice to
how God meets us in suffering in the person of Jesus Christ, who died on the cross and rose from the dead. What is the Theology of the Cross for us today? May 6, 2017 “Living Worship” by Rev. Karyn Bodenschatz Luther had a deep understanding of the liturgy or "work of the people." What was the original Lutheran Order of Worship? Learn how Luther took melodies of the day, sung in folk music and played in pubs. Learn how we as Lutherans are a people who are known to "Sing our Faith." All these events are from 9:30am – noon at the synod office (2301 South Ave La Crosse WI 54601; phone 608-788-5000) Pastor Harald
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